Militants abduct and kill 6 north of Baghdad

BAGHDAD (AP) — Iraqi officials say militants have killed six farmers after abducting them from their houses north of Baghdad.

Two police officers say a group of gunmen disguised in military uniforms launched a pre-dawn raid Monday in an agricultural area in the Sunni town of Tarmiyah and took the six from their homes. The bodies were found hours later in a nearby orchard with shots to their heads and chests.

Tarmiyah is located about 50 kilometers (30 miles) north of Baghdad. Insurgents are believed to use the belt of communities around the capital as bases to stage attacks into the city.

A medical official confirmed the deaths. All officials spoke anonymously as they were not authorized to release information.

Militants frequently disguise themselves in police or army uniforms to carry out attacks.